Dear Brother Camillus,When
I was a student at Saint Mary's,
I took one of your
meditation workshops. It was my
first experience with meditation.
I was student teaching at the time,
and it was absolutely amazing how
much that workshop transformed
my teaching experience. I began
to meditate every day, and my teaching
changed completely. Before I had
been nervous and stressed, with
little control of my classes. Once
I started to meditate, I conquered
my nervousness and taught the classes
with calm and confidence. What
a difference! It was as if I had
a new
set of students. So I would
like to thank you for giving that
workshop!

Suzanne Christensen
'05

Personal experiences

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Partcipants of
past workshops and classes have
generously agreed to allow us
to post their comments about
experiences with meditation.

Read class evaluation
comments from a workshop held
September 7, 2008:

Question 1: Describe
briefly a powerful religious
experience you had in this Tuesday
Series?

I was able to experience the
most amazing sense of peace,
Unexplainable. Now I have
a tremendous sense of calm throughout
my day. I look forward to
my time of meditation. (Anonymous)

During the third session and
the second meditation I experienced
in the series (on Jesus on
the Cross and Mary beneath it),
I felt an incredible lightness,
calm, and rest that I can only
attribute to resting in God
or being “held by God.” MPF

The third session was my first
standing before the crucifix
and I felt such a deep remorse
for my shortcomings. When
Br. Camillus laid hands on
me and blessed me, I felt a
complete compassion overcome
me. (OT)

I experienced a deep sense
of peace and relaxation during
the guided meditations. During
the meditation with the light
of Christ I had a release of
physical pain in my back and
joints. (JQ)

I actually experienced Christ
within me and felt his incredible
love for me. (IW)

Question 2: What is
the most important life lesson
learned or had reaffirmed
by this series?

That
I can cope with anything because
I know God and the Holy Spirit
are always present in me. (Anonymous)

That God loves and cares
for me and is a forgiving God.
MPF

I’m learning more of how God
loves me. I know he works
on my mid but now I’m beginning
to feel it in my heart. (OT)

It confirmed the power of
prayer and time taken to connect
with God and Spirit. (JQ)

That I have an inner core
where God remains with me at
all times. (IW)

College
Students have been positively
impacted by their Meditation
course work with Brother Camillus.
Read comments from their midterm:

“I have experienced nothing
but good while meditating.
I now feel more relaxed and
patient towards myself and
others. This class has really
helped me connect with everyone
socially. I have developed
a better relationship with
my family and feel closer to
them”. CM

“For the past few years
I had been having trouble
falling asleep, and as a
result was constantly anxious
and jumpy. I was finding
it increasingly difficult
to do everyday tasks. Since
I have been meditating, I
have rarely been without
sleep.
I am no longer as anxious as
I used to be. I remember things
more clearly. I am
now more peaceful and calm.
It has also taught me to keep
a positive attitude.” MR

“I have enjoyed waking up
and meditating; I feel that
it gets me in the right mood
to begin my day. I find it
refreshing to come home after
classes, sit on my couch, meditate
and think for about 10 minutes
what I did that day and what
I can do better. This has really
helped me make better and quicker
decisions.

When I am in Alpha (meditation
level), I always feel a sense
of warmth come over my body
and it just makes me feel good.
Also, sometimes when meditating
I will finally understand something
that I have been questioning
for awhile.

As long as I can remember,
I have had a problem with anxiety,
but for he first time I feel
like I can control when I am
getting anxious.” HJ

“I used to get really stressed
about school work. I was always
frustrated and would be very
moody. I thought negative thoughts
that made it hard to concentrate.
Now that I meditate my new
attitude is to enjoy life and
be positive. I meditate before
I do my homework which relaxes
me and makes me confident that
I will do an excellent job
on my papers. I now understand
what I am reading, especially
the seminar readings.” AB

“I used to get headaches
all the time, at least one
a day, most often more. The
best and most unexpected result
from meditation has been my
ability to get rid of headaches.”
SP

“Before learning about
meditation, I was going to
sleep at 3:00 AM every night
studying. I would get easily
distracted, feel out of order,
and stressed. But now with
meditation, I feel more organized
and relaxed when I do my homework.
I start it with a positive,
focused attitude, and get my
homework and studying done
two hours earlier than before.”
NM

Efficaciousness
of Meditation Techniques for
Prayer

“It is from our in class
practices that I was able to
find an even deeper use of
meditation, a way to link my
Buddhist meditation to my Catholic
Faith. I was able to use meditation
as a means to experience my
connection to God. Through
meditation I am able to feel
a stronger presence from God,
to feel His guiding hands,
and to be reminded that ‘I am
a daughter of God.’ I was able
to grow tremendously through
my meditation techniques, but
most importantly I was able
to grow in Spirit.” KZ

“Previously I viewed prayer
as mostly traditional. I have
since found that it is not
difficult to lift up to God
less conventional prayers,
as I do during my meditations.
Now it is somewhat easier to
go deeper into my prayer/meditation
times since the class has taught
me a little more focus. The
thing that led me to this change
was the discipline I showed
inside and outside of the class.
This course gives me a means
of analyzing the experience
of prayer itself. Now I pray
in a much more mindful fashion
which is leading me to deeper
levels of faith.” AV

“Since I have begun to
meditate I have more confidence
in myself and am motivated
to finish the things I have
started. I feel more focused;
I can stick to one task and
finish it. Spiritually I’ve
grown into a better person.
I try my best to do what is
right. I walk around with
a smile on my face and I
enjoy life because each day
is precious.
I now see prayer as a deeper
connection to God; it’s not
about being able to recite
something back when asked but
to truly feel it in my heart.
Prayer keeps me going. I feel
God’s love and know that He
is there for me even when I
feel that everything is going
wrong. My faith keeps me strong
and able to see the good in
every situation.
I have learned in this class
that I need to take time out
for myself, even if it’s
only five minutes a day of
meditation. It has also taught
me that I am special, a daughter
of God, even at times when
I feel that I am not worthy.
I am special and loved by God,
no matter what.” AC

"Meditation helps in
various ways. Little things
don’t bother me as much when
I consistently meditate. I
notice and enjoy ‘the little
things’ that make life beautiful.
I’m better focused and able
to study after meditation.
Using affirmations in meditation
keeps me thinking in a positive
manner.
Meditating gives me a sense
of peace or stillness. I can
relax better because I don’t
worry so much; I trust in God.
I don’t worry about getting
sick; I love and trust my body.
Meditations help me keep my
sanity especially during midterms.
I have greater self-confidence.
When I enter a deep state of
meditation I feel a sense of
awe and respect towards God.”
JH